Victoria Leatherback top

james heider

james heider

Senior Member
Does anyone know of an upholstery shop in central Florida that is capable of installing the top on my leatherback Victoria.
I just received the new top from LB and would like to have it installed correctly.
Several shops that I have talked to want to glue the foam that is used under modern landau roofs to the A body and then glue the LB top to the foam like they do for the modern tops. Does this sound like a good way to go? From what I have been told this type of foam that is 1/4" thick does not deteriorate.
 
Did the LB kit come with any material to put down under the top material? That foam does not sound like a good idea to me. I have a steel back vicky, I would be interested in knowing what if anything went under the top material for the leather back vickys.
 
The LB kit came with the muslin/canvas material to put on top of the poultry wire along with a piece of padding material that looks like a furnace filter, the fiberglass type.
It appears that there is enough of this padding material to cover the entire top of the car.
 
no foam, please, either under roof fabric OR in the door upholstery panels.
it does not look or feel correct.

I'm not certain what's under the Vicky roof, but I'm certain it's not foam.
check with your peers in the Victoria Association.
we used cotton quilt batting under our Coupe roof, Judy bought it at JoAnn Fabrics.
 
Last edited:
Hello James;
I don't have much Model A experience, but here is what I found on mine.....
When I pulled my replacement top done in 1959 the fella used 1/8" (or so) cotten batting. This car was driven as daily transportation and it was exposed to rain and moisture but has been in a garage since that time. The sheetmetal had rusted under the padding, which I felt was from the trapped moisture.
Based on my limited knowledge I'm thinking that a perfect seal is rare and some moisture may leak under the top fabric and began the corrosion process.
With the material choices today I wonder if there isn't a better choice for a padding that wont trap the moisture?
In the safety apparel industry there are moisture wicking materials used which may have the same body as the cotton.....still checking on this one.

Does any one know if the top sheet metal was painted body color before the top was installed. I cannot find any signs that it was fully painted which may have led to a faster promotion of rust......
 
Definately use the canvas and the padding for the roof over the chickden wire that LB sent with their kit. I guess I'm just unsure if that padding continues on down the side and rear of the body over the sheet metal. Or is the top material applied directly over the body?

I agree with Chris please do not use foam padding. I have found out over the years that most shops of these types will want to use the modern materials and techniques used today, they are generally not interested in originality or preservation of the vehicles original apperance.
 
A six page step by step top installation instruction for the Leatherback Victoria was published in the December 1930 Service bulletins. Pictures of each step are included.
 
Thanks Richard for your reply. I have those instructions. They were written 80 years ago before the invention of modern crosslinked poly foam and adhesives. The foam I am looking at and has been recommended by the upholstery shops is Volara. This product is used under modern automobile vinyl tops. I was wondering if anyone had experience with this material and its application, if it is not good for a Model a top then I need a good top installer here in Florida who can do it the old fashion way.
 
The stuff you were sent sounds like the stuff a trimmer showed me to use over 15 years ago.I think it is called bonded dacron.If you took a 6X8 scotch brite pad and stretched it out to 16X16 you might have it.It looks thick when you hold it,but when you stretch top material over it it squashes real thin.It does not hold water,seems impervious to heat and sun,and forms well around corners.It absorbs nail heads and divots without showing them through on the top.If the joint of the front/rear roof panels on a Tudor are a little off this stuff will even it out.After using it I have no use for the cotton any more.The main reason I like steel top Victorias is I hate the puffy top look most seem to have on the leatherbacks.
 
Based on an observation of 1920's and 1930's tops on restorations, BE SURE everything under that first layer of top material is DEAD FLAT! Nothing sticks out faster on a first glance than a tack bulge or out of line top bow.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top